Tourism is a popular interest as there are thousands of destinations worth a visit around the world. 2024 has been an exceptionally busy travel season, with new records being broken on a near-monthly basis. However, locals in some of the more popular destinations are pushing back against those looking to visit their areas and the two sides are bound to come to ahead.
Greece is one of the areas in Europe that has seen a surge in tourism and locals trying to draw a line in the sand. Santorini is a popular area south of Athens and an island that has seen a boost this season. As the number of visitors continues to rise, the locals there are looking to end mass tourism. Approximately 20,000 permanent residents live on the series of islands and they are calling for an end.
Locals are claiming that the rise in visitors, approximately 3.4 million in 2023 for example, continues to cause issues with the island infrastructure. One step authorities are attempting to take is to limit the number of cruise ship passengers to the island to 8,000 per day, more than half of the 17,000 that is seen in the current state.
“It is in the best interest of our land for there to be a limit,” said Mayor Nikos Zorzos.
The residents of this Greek island are taking different steps than those of some other European countries. Take what is happening in Madrid. Activists there have taken to spraying travelers with water guns to prevent them from having a moment of peace during their trips. This includes spraying patrons at restaurants with water guns or chanting “tourists go home,” at crowds in the city.
The Assembly of Neighbourhoods for Tourism Degrowth continues to organize protests in cities like Barcelona. Among their demands are calling for higher tourism taxes, limiting the number of cruise terminals, and putting a cap on short-term tourist accommodations. The efforts are to curb the availability of those looking to come to these cities, even as foreign tourists spend much more than domestic tourists in these areas.
As travel continues to get more expensive but still doesn’t slow down, locals in popular destinations are looking to bring things back to a level that will not hinder the areas they live in year-around.